cartographyhttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/taxonomy/term/6271/all
enMethodists have Britain mapped online and interactivelyhttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16759
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<p>The Methodist Church has launched an interactive web map of churches and communities in Britain, combining its data with information from other sources.</p>
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<p>The Methodist Church has launched an interactive web map of its churches in Britain, combining Methodist data with information from the Office of National Statistics, the Church of England, and Action for Children. </p>
<p>The launch of the web map coincides with the launch of the new and improved Methodist Church website where the map can be viewed, says a Church representative. </p>
<p>The map has been designed to enable people to view and explore churches, fellowship groups, projects, schools, and much more within their local contexts. As well as displaying a range of data about these places, groups and activities, the map allows users to find out what their communities are like. </p>
<p>It also shows land use, wealth, poverty and wellbeing in any given area, incorporating the latest available statistics from the Office of National Statistics and the Church’s partner organisations. The tool even enables people to create their own maps, displaying the pieces of information they want to see at the scale they want to see it. </p>
<p>Church leaders hope that the data will improve people’s understanding of local and national demographics, helping them to reach out to their local communities more effectively. </p>
<p>Dr Christopher Stephens, Connexional Research and Statistics Coordinator, said: “This is a fantastic tool for the mission and ministry of the Church, both locally and nationally. The web map emerges from a strong demand from Methodists to see the data we collect about the Church reported in useful and flexible new ways. Maps provide a tool for presenting key information for mission planning in a clear and easy way. The new web map empowers Methodists to create, for the first time, their own maps based on their own questions and needs.” </p>
<p>This first phase of a project which will evolve in coming months and years. There are plans to expand functions, such as printing facilities and search tools, as well as to invite people in local churches and partner organisations to provide new data for addition to the map. </p>
<p>Then 2011 census data will be added when it becomes available. One key development will be to encourage Methodist members participating in church activities to upload photos, videos and text and begin online discussions attached to items featured on the map. </p>
<p>The map was designed in partnership with Groundwork – a community charity. </p>
<p>The Methodist Church remains a major Christian denomination in Britain, though it continues to suffer from a decline in members - down by nearly half since 1983 - experienced by most other 'mainline churches', with the exception of Baptists.</p>
<p>The advanced version of the Methodist online web map can be viewed here: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/d2tphkk" title="http://tinyurl.com/d2tphkk">http://tinyurl.com/d2tphkk</a></p>
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<!-- google_ad_section_end -->Religion and SocietyNews Briefcartographychurch declinechurch growthmapmethodist churchUK NewsFri, 22 Jun 2012 09:33:05 +0000staff writers16759 at http://www.ekklesia.co.ukInternet mapping bypasses 'church and pub' navigationhttp://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/7616
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<p>People in Britain, whether religious or not, have been used to negotiating their directions by churches, pubs and other landmarks. But in the age of web maps that will have to change, because traditional sites are disappearing.</p>
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<p>People in Britain, whether religious or not, have been used to negotiating their directions by first locating churches, pubs and other notable landmarks. But in the age of web maps that will have to change, because traditional sites are disappearing.</p>
<p>That is the view of the country's leading cartographers. For internet mapping is wiping thousands of British landmarks off the map, according to a leading geographical society.</p>
<p>Churches, ancient woodlands and stately homes are in danger of being forgotten as applications such as Google Earth become a more popular way for people to search interactively for maps and satellite images, British Cartographic Society president Mary Spence told her organisation's annual gathering.</p>
<p>Speaking at a Royal Geographic Society conference, Ms Spence said: "Corporate cartographers are demolishing thousands of years of history - not to mention Britain's remarkable geography - at a stroke by not including them on maps which millions of us now use every day."</p>
<p>She continued: "We're in real danger of losing what makes maps so unique; giving us a feel for a place even if we've never been there."</p>
<p>However, Mr Ed Parsons, geospatial technologist at Google, said the way in which people used maps was changing and that the issue was therefore adaptation not loss of identity. </p>
<p>He declared: "Internet maps can now be personalised allowing people to include landmarks and information that is of interest to them. Anyone can create their own maps or use experiences to collaborate with others in charting their local knowledge. These traditional landmarks are still on the map but people need to search for them. You couldn't possibly have everything already pinpointed."</p>
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<!-- google_ad_section_end -->Education and CultureNews BriefcartographyChurchgeographymappubUK NewsFri, 29 Aug 2008 20:22:21 +0000staff writers7616 at http://www.ekklesia.co.uk